Advent - Double the Joy

 

"From the very first day, we were there, taking it all in—we heard it with our own ears, saw it with our own eyes, verified it with our own hands. The Word of Life appeared right before our eyes; we saw it happen! And now we’re telling you in most sober prose that what we witnessed was, incredibly, this: The infinite Life of God himself took shape before us.

We saw it, we heard it, and now we’re telling you so you can experience it along with us, this experience of communion with the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ. Our motive for writing is simply this: We want you to enjoy this, too. Your joy will double our joy!"
-John the Apostle, circa 1st century

Before there were live streaming and internet (up to the second) news, there was cable TV. Before that news were broadcasted on air, transmitted to our televisions and radios. Prior to that it was printed on paper, posters or periodicals or a person would yell them out to people gathered around a public or private place.

News Flash

In the first century, perfect love, perfect peace and perfect joy came down from heaven.

He was born like one of us. He grew up, ate, worked and walked the earth with us.

And as we commemorate His birth, let us pause to think about what John wrote about Him whose birthday we are celebrating this Advent Season.

The Message

Those who were with Jesus during His earthly ministry testified in spoken and written word that with their own ears, they have heard, with their own eyes they have seen, and with their own hands they have touched the Word who was made flesh.

It will appear as if we are listening to a sports commentator on radio as he tells us the play by play as he is watching the World Series, the Super Bowl, the World Cup Final or Game 7 of the NBA Finals.

We were not there, but they were. Their joy was complete. But the very reason they want to tell us about it is that they want to share their joy with us and not only that because it gives them even more joy, if that is even possible.

Oh but it is.

When you've experienced the reality of who Jesus is, you cannot help but share it with someone. People may call you names, might hurt you, throw you out of your home, your clan, your church, your school, your workplace, your community, your country. And it will hurt.

Game Winner

But just as that sport commentator is yelling out the winning pitch, the winning run, the winning goal, the winning touchdown, the winning sack, the winning block, the winning save, or the go ahead basket as game time expires, nothing else matters. We can hear it in his voice, how happy he is.

And as our team wins, we all jump up and yell and dance and sing for joy, just as if we were there to see those moments ourselves.

This is how it should be.

And it is -- our team won. The sports announcer is beside himself (with joy) and we are celebrating the good news.

This day in the town of Bethlehem, the Savior, our King was born -- just as it was foretold and written about for hundreds of years. And like the shepherds who saw the baby in the manger, who couldn't contain their joy, we too should go tell someone that Jesus Christ, the Messiah is born.

Advent Series